So do I want a bino harness

[280twoeighty]

Thanks guys, some great thoughts and recommendations. If buying new the Marsupial looks good as it is fairly compact and a simple design. Which kind of meets my criteria. I don't think I would be carrying gadgits in it. But who knows. I may post a wtb add in the classifieds and buy a used AGC or FHF that someone is not using and try that out. Again, thanks for the info. Really appreciate it.

 

[tttoadman]

I have only had an AGC cub no basement, and then I got a cub w/ basement. I am a big fan. true statement about the added room in the side pockets when you get the basement. The In-reach is a perfect fit in the basement after you break the belt clip off the back. Viper 10x42 fit the cub perfect. I wouldnt want to try anything bigger. I don't have a strap on my rifle. I carry my gun on top of the bino pack most of the time in hunt mode. an added bonus. Very comfortable for all day wear for me.

 

[5MilesBack]

I was never a fan of the idea and pretty much thought they were ridiculous.

I still can't stand them, or my binos on my chest. I keep my binos under my right arm with just the neck strap around my neck. They don't bounce or get in the way, they just sit there until I want them. If I was belly crawling around for hours every day I might look for a different idea, but this works great for most all of my hunting.

 

[igBand]

Recent convert the past two seasons to an FHF case myself. Wouldn't do it any other way for a couple of reasons - 1) I strongly prefer the weather protection from the case over covers on the eye cups and lenses - the case makes getting to the binos so much quicker (and quieter) than fumbling with the covers (which I always seem to lose to boot). 2) no more bouncing and jiggling I would get from the standard harnesses.

 

[oldgoat]

I had cabelas version like the crooked horn, I almost never wore the binoculars except scouting. After seeing the versatility of the AGC I bought one and loved it. They sell used for so close to new price it's almost not worth waiting for a used one. They don't all have the same inside dimensions, first one I bought used was to small for my 10x42and the binos squeaked horribly going in and out. They hold a lot of nice little things have if you get away from your pack. I have a space blanket, lighter, fire starter, knife, windicatator, 'chapstick etc in mine. All that stuff fit in the basic model with basement. Look them on Black Ovis, there website is much easier to navigate than AGC webpage. I think you will enjoy them, I was apprehensive first too!

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I prefer the KUIU version. Silent, protects, no bounce, one hand operation with the lid going in the right direction, and unobtrusive. Just big enough for the binos, a windchecker, and lens cleaner.

 

[Pontius]

Love my FHF. One silent, intuitive, smooth motion and you've got your glass handy. The harness wears like it isn't there. You literally forget you're wearing it, the weight forward is a pleasant offset to the weight on your back. Rangefinder rides nice too.

 

[ReddingArcher]

I've tried a few different ones, the simple lockdown x that just hold the binos and nothing else, the kuiu harness and now the AGC kodiak cub. The AGC is my favorite by far. It's comfortable, quick to get into and has room for quite a few other items that's nice to keep on you at all times. I keep my rangefinder and lens pen in the front pocket, windicator and chapstick in the side pockets and keep my tags and license in the back pocket. It's definitely a nice piece of gear.

 

[highside74]

I just switched from the Lockdown X to the AGC Cub Hybrid that Blackovis is selling and it is sweet. Rangefinder pocket up front, basement pocket, mesh side pockets and a mess back pocket. They throw in the binocular straps for free. I can't believe how much I love this harness. Can't wait to hunt with it.

 

[luke moffat]

I still can't stand them, or my binos on my chest. I keep my binos under my right arm with just the neck strap around my neck. They don't bounce or get in the way, they just sit there until I want them. If I was belly crawling around for hours every day I might look for a different idea, but this works great for most all of my hunting.

Which ones did you try that you couldn't stand?

 

[5MilesBack]

Which ones did you try that you couldn't stand?

Crooked Horn, Bino Buddy, FHF, and another I forgot the name of that used magnets to keep closed. But they are what they are......and they all keep the binos on your chest.

 

[Tex68w]

I just ordered the Kuiu harness after messing with it and the Alaska at the DSC Convention. I like how minimalist it was in its approach yet it still provided protection to the binos and securely held them to your chest. I'll have to use it a bit to see if I actually like it or not.

 

[Randle]

I have the bino bro and like it but it doesnt have padding to speak of so no real protection for impact, I also had an AGC cub but "felt" the front pocket made it seem bulky. I now have the kiss model and like it steam line and padded . It will be the one I use this year.
I think personally they take some getting used to. If you normal like just having binos on a harness , at first a bino pouch may feel like a full back pack on the chest, the more I wore one the more I liked it.

 

[Flashmo]

I still use the Crooked Horn style (have several). Simple, and keeps the weight off my neck. I am in the KISS department...

 

[406]

Really like my fhf. But, it's still a little"noisy" after half a season and has a weird chemical smell to it. I'm assuming/hoping both these issues resolve with more abuse.

I liked the idea of the nose gunner but I got my hands on one yesterday and it seems like poor execution. I could see maybe scouting with one but I wouldn't want to hunt with it and a pack over it. Harness is bulky, the bag really sticks out off the chest, and the holster is poorly designed. And it didn't really seem to close well.

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[luke moffat]

Crooked Horn, Bino Buddy, FHF, and another I forgot the name of that used magnets to keep closed. But they are what they are......and they all keep the binos on your chest.

Not so worried about keeping them on my chest. Growing up a simple pair of crooked horn elastics would do that. It was the always having wet lenses or steamed up inside my rain gear was the initial main driver to buy my first set of AGC back in 2009. The fact that I can also keep some other stuff easily at hand is a bonus.

Like most anything else we use for hunting it's certainly not needed but I find it useful.

 

[Flashmo]

Not so worried about keeping them on my chest. Growing up a simple pair of crooked horn elastics would do that. It was the always having wet lenses or steamed up inside my rain gear was the initial main driver to buy my first set of AGC back in 2009. The fact that I can also keep some other stuff easily at hand is a bonus.

Like most anything else we use for hunting it's certainly not needed but I find it useful.

Gowing up...all we had was the tourist neck strap. At least by the early 90's they started making the straps wider so they wouldnt decapitate you over the course of a long hike.

 

[SWVA_Tim]

Didn't read all The replies ...but I bought the FHF harness two years ago and have used my Binos is more in the last two years than I have in the last 30 I wouldn't do it any other way


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[Antlers]

I swore off the stretchy ones for years and just used the neck strap across my chest and under the off arm. But when training for a goat hunt last year I got tired of readjusting them while climbing. I have always struggled when on all fours sneaking; I would just pull them around and try to balance them in the small of my back. I tried the Kuiu version for a goat hunt last year. I used the option w/o the case - they worked well, allowed me to use both hands climbing and weren't bouncing/dangling when on my knees.

I'm not entirely sold on them for general use (too many years doing it the old way), but will use them for alpine hunts, and pronghorn hunts for sure.

 

[jaredgreen]

Went from the Lockdown to the AGC this season. As already mentioned, the protection provided for your optics makes them worth while alone. Add the ability to keep your basic survival gear with you at all times made it a no brainer for me. Dropping my pack near dark to get on a screaming bull is no longer a dilemma. I drop, waypoint, and go!!!!


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